Calls made to improve lighting on Forth Bridge

Calls have been made to improve lighting on the Forth Bridge.

Currently, only about 5% of the lights on the UNESCO World Heritage Site are working.

However, members of Fife Council’s Cabinet Committee heard that bridge operators, Network Rail, have no plans to improve the illuminations before 2030.

The issue was raised as councillors considered a report on the bridge management plan for 2026-2036.

Rosyth councillor Brian Goodall said: “I understand it has been some time since the bridge was lit up and there has been some deterioration of the number of lights that are still working.

“It has been something seen as something quite positive over the last ten years that the bridge was lit up and is quite spectacular at night even if slightly less spectacular with less lights functioning.”

Karen Stewart, Forth Bridges World Heritage and Tourism Lead, acknowledged lighting was an issue that had come up during consultation for the ten year plan.

“The existing lighting system is not all working any more and Network Rail is going to look to find a suitable economic way of addressing this in the future,” she confirmed.

“But at the moment, there is no active new scheme to be introduced.”

Council leader David Ross said he would like to see the historic bridge “properly lit” with hopes it be done “the sooner the better.”

He asked Ms Stewart: “If you could pass that on, our concerns about it, to Network Rail and see if there is something that can be hurried up.”

Glenrothes West and Kinglassie councillor Craig Walker is also keen for work to be sped up.

“It (the report) mentions that Network Rail is not going to look at it until at least 2030,” he said.

“My understanding is that around 95 per cent of the current lighting is not working. Everybody acknowledges the magnificent feat of engineering. It was brilliant during the Millennium but we would like to see that on a very regular basis.

“Can we try and persuade Network Rail to look at this quicker than the current plans?”